My Life is Not a Fairy Tale

Chapter Four

The next few days passed pretty much uneventfully. Though Ember and Axel still didn’t get along, they didn’t have any major fights. As the days went by, Ember seemed to become more at home. She did occasionally skip meals, and that had Miyoxi worried, but she at least started hanging around them more often.

One morning, she went out for her morning walk as usual. She could tell that Axel didn’t like her walks, but he had refrained from yelling at her about it any more. That morning she was out longer than usual. The sun had fully risen by the time she entered the apartment building again. The clock behind the desk told her that it was shortly after eight ‘clock. The sun shone through the windows, leaving square patches of light on the plush carpet.

Kitty trailed behind Ember, letting out a soft meow every now and again to tell Ember she was going too fast. Ember paused for a moment to let Kitty catch up before opening the apartment door. Axel’s voice immediately crashed upon her ears.

“I suppose you went for a walk again, right?” He asked, his voice mockingly soft. “You forgot all about the plans Miyoxi made, didn’t you?” He narrowed his eyes at her, standing up and folding his arms.

“Plans…?” Ember asked, feigning innocence. She knelt and scooped Kitty up before turning her eyes on Axel.

“Yes, plans.” Axel said, advancing a few steps. “The library’s got something going on and Miyoxi wanted us all to be there.” He paused, waiting for some reaction from Ember, but she gave none. “Now, since you conveniently ‘forgot’ about it, I had to wait here for you and now I have to walk with you to the library. Are you happy?” He continued to glare at her while he waited for an answer.

“Happy.” Ember said, her eyes never leaving his face. “Why would I be happy? It is no secret that I do not enjoy your company. Now I am being forced to endure a full day’s worth of your company. Tell me, would you be happy?” She continued watching him, no emotion showing in either her face or eyes.

Axel sighed. “Look, this isn’t getting us anywhere.” He said, shaking his head. “Let’s just get this over with. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave.” He started for the door, not waiting, or seeming to care if Ember followed.

Placing Kitty on her shoulder, Ember followed Axel out the door. Kitty immediately crawled down into Ember’s hood. She was used to the arguments between Axel and Ember. She usually tried to sleep through them. That occasion was no different.

---

Hours later, Axel stormed into the apartment, furious. Miyoxi followed him, trying desperately to get him to calm down. “Come on, Axel!” She said imploringly. “It wasn’t Ember’s fault!”

Demyx and Ember entered the apartment shortly after Miyoxi did. Ember was looking completely apathetic. Demyx on the other hand was looking apprehensive. Axel had kept his temper in check for so long, he’d been surprised. Yet he had been sure it would only be a matter of time before he blew like that.

“Miyoxi’s right,” Demyx said. “It really isn’t Ember’s fault.” He paused as Axel turned his eyes on him. Axel was mad, and Demyx wasn’t helping.

Ember said nothing, choosing to let Miyoxi, Axel and Demyx battle it out. But Axel wouldn’t let her. He whirled on Ember, scowling. “That kitten drives me crazy!” He snarled.

“Well, if you wouldn’t scream at her, she wouldn’t get scared and run!” Ember shouted. It was the first time she had let her anger get out of control. Her eyes had fire in them as she glared at Axel, and she clenched her teeth. “But, since you’re such a fuckin’ asshole, you can’t see that it’s your fault she’s always in trouble!”

“Ember!” Miyoxi exclaimed, shocked. “I will not tolerate that kind of language in my house!” She was still so surprised and shocked that she could hardly speak.

“Is it my fault you wanted to bring me to this fuckin’ hell hole?” Ember yelled, turning on Miyoxi. “I didn’t want to come; I would have been just fine on my own! But you brought me here, and now I have to put up with the biggest asshole in the world!” She sent a glare in Axel’s direction, and then she dashed for her room.

Miyoxi turned on Axel. “You know she’s right. It is your fault Kitty’s always in trouble.” She said angrily. “You’re always yelling at her, and if you hadn’t yelled at her today, she wouldn’t have knocked over that display stand.” She folded her arms, glaring at the redhead who glared right back.

Before Axel could reply, Ember came back out of her room, holding her backpack. “I’ve had enough.” She said, her voice dripping with cold fury. “I’m leaving.” She sent a fleeting glance at Demyx before walking right past him and then slamming the door open, leaving the apartment. No one made any move to stop her. They just stood silently, watching as she strode away.

As soon as she was out of sight, Miyoxi whirled on Axel. “You’re going after her.” She snarled.

Axel folded his arms defiantly. “No. If she wants to leave, let her. She’ll come back once she’s cooled off.”

Demyx shook his head at that. In the short week he had spent with Ember, he had learned much about her. She wouldn’t come back, unless they made her. And personally, he wouldn’t want to be the one to tell her she needed to come back.

-----

Ember strode angrily down the street, her feet pounding dully on the concrete. Kitty was snuggled deep in the hood of her jacket, blissfully unaware that they no longer had a ‘home’. It wasn’t like Ember cared any way. She had despised Axel from the moment she’d first laid eyes on him, and Miyoxi was so annoyingly patient. No, what was bothering her was the look on Demyx’s face when she’d walked right past him and out the door. The look of shock, hurt and pleading haunted her every thought as she marched relentlessly through the city.

Why should it bother her so much, though? She hated Demyx just as much as she hated Axel and Miyoxi. Admittedly, he had always been kind to Kitty, and he had never once raised his voice when speaking to her, no matter how badly she treated him. Still, he was annoying, and too interested in getting to know her. No one had ever gotten close enough to her to get to know her. She had never allowed it.

After a moment of pondering, she shook her head, trying to clear it. She needed to clear her mind, and be ready for anything. She was on her own again. She slowed her steps deliberately as she calmed herself. The sky was dark with clouds, and threatening to rain.

She slowed more as she felt someone behind her. It could be an innocent by-stander, or it could be a threat. She whirled around, but not quick enough. Something came into hard contact with her temple, and everything went blank.

Kitty leapt away from Ember as the girl fell, unconscious, to the ground. The small kitten tried to dash away, but she was picked up around the middle, surprisingly gently. Something was slipped underneath her collar, and then she was set down again. Without a backward glance, she sprinted away, leaving Ember to her fate.

Kitty only stopped running when someone stepped into her path. She crouched down, hissing softly, but then gentle hands picked her up. The man who had picked her up was tall, and rough looking, but his hands were gentle as he stroked her. Soon Kitty had calmed, and she began purring. The man placed her gently on his shoulder, and then strode away into the gathering darkness, pulling up his hood as the first drops of rain fell to the ground.